Monday, December 5, 2016

Generic Gifts Teen Boys and Other community Needs

I need help and ideas. Those of you with teen or tween boys, do you have suggestions for generic presents to donate to our local family service organization to fill in for last minute requests from families? I've got oodles of things for girls like leg warmers, bath sets, jewelry, and hats and scarves that I've picked up or the DD's were gifted (lovely just never used), but want to put some of our end of year giving in this direction. It is highly needed for a group of kids that need to know that their family and community cares about them. Families usually need to register weeks, sometimes months in advance, but each year, Family Service does their best to support late requests, or beef up where donations are lean. Teen boys is always a struggle. I think they will also just take cash specifically for gift card buying, so that is my fall back, but if I run across items,I'd love to purposefully scoop up a few bargains to help stretch my giving. Please leave me your ideas in the comments below.

I'll do a plug as well for now being the time of year in the northern hemisphere when heating bills rise, gas in cars seems to burn faster, and it just seems to cost more just to live the most basic of life, and donations for basics are needed. Items that are necessities like toilet paper, shampoo, soap, and cleaning products can't be purchased with SNAP cards, even if the family receives that benefit. I'm going to be particularity diligent about finding the two for ones, the extras, that I can bundle and drop off. I love my community and want all who live here to feel welcome and supported. We have a beautiful store looking service center where families actually get to shop for the items their family needs and prefers. It costs nothing to help foster dignity, so I want to do my part in supporting this terrific organization.

I missed out on participating on the Thanksgiving Day run/family walk, but DD got in on it and got her shirt! This year, a record breaking $126,000 was raised, over 1/4 of their annual operating budget, plus food and supply donations. However a holiday is celebrated, I plan for me and mine to keep service and giving as a focal point.

That's where girls are much easier. Jewelry really gets discounted and I've been able to get items for hardly anything. Last Christmas all the guy gifts items that clearance seemed to have an alcohol skew (flasks, shot glasses) so obviously nots. I'll check though the jewelry area.

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